Book Reviews

Beggars and Choosers by Mia Kerick at Dreamspinner Press

Genre

Gay / Contemporary / Romance

Reviewed by

Serena Yates on 07-October-2012

Book Blurb

After a hard life filled with experiences he’d rather not remember but can’t forget, Brett Taylor decides he doesn’t need anyone or anything. He gets a job at a bar in a nothing little town where he can fish and race dirt bikes and hide from the world. So naturally as he’s walking across the parking lot at his new job, reminding himself how self-reliant he is, he meets someone he can’t shove aside.

Brett can’t help but admire Cory Butana, the kid who lives above the bar where his father is the principal bartender. Unwanted by either parent, the sweet, personable Cory grew up neglected and hungry for affection. Now he’s determined to make something of his life, even if he has to work himself ragged to do it.

Cory shouldn’t have to suffer like Brett did, and Brett wants to lend a hand. But when their relationship evolves into something Brett isn’t ready to need, he reacts… and the consequences may destroy their fledgling future. With scars like theirs, forgiveness is never easy.

Book Review

Are you ready for an intense, emotionally draining, angsty roller coaster of a ride? Then give this book a try. It’s the story of two men, both in need of attention, acceptance, and love. The slow pace and alternating points of view give a great look at their lives and past history, while letting the building relationship grow almost unnoticed. The voice of this book, due to Brett's accent, is very unique, but may not be for everyone.

Brett has an awful past, a mother who has emotionally neglected him, and he's had to fight for every inch of semi-normal life he now claims as his own. He wants to protect Cory, but is extremely attracted to him as well. The inner conflict of what to do causes him lots of sleepless nights, and when he pulls away because he thinks he isn’t good enough for Cory, I could have killed him. But when push comes to shove, although he claims not to be emotional, he gets pretty close.

Cory has suffered as well, his alcoholic father not exactly a model parent. Nevertheless he is sweet and trusting, which will cost him dearly. I really felt for him and hate what he had to go through. He is very much in love with Brett, and it just isn’t in his nature not to forgive. Thank God for that!

If you like emotional roller coasters, if you enjoy seeing two men grow up and learn how to communicate, and if you like your romances to move at a leisurely pace, you will probably like this book.

DISCLAIMER: Books reviewed on this site were usually provided at no cost by the publisher or author. This book has purhcased by the reviewer.

Connect with Us

Snowball In Hell by Josh Lanyon

Reporter Nathan Doyle had his reasons to want Phil Arlen dead, but when he sees the man’s body pulled from the La Brea tar pit, he knows he’ll be the prime suspect.

Shades by Jaime Reese

Killian Marks is a third-generation hitman. After hunting monsters for over twenty years, he lives under no illusions of happily ever afters and fairy tales.

Nesting Habits by Charley Descoteaux at CeeTwo Publishing

All he ever wanted was to be a normal guy….

Hurricane (Stormy Weather 3) by BA Tortuga

Galen and Shane are back in the final installment of the Stormy Weather series, and a tempest of epic proportions is brewing.

To Hell You Ride by Julia Talbot

Big Roy is a hard-rock miner with a not-so-secret love for the theater, so when he hears a new troupe of actors are coming to the Telluride Opera House to put on a Shakespeare play, he saddles his mule and makes the trek into town to see it.